Praise for Declan Burke: “Burke shows again that he’s not just a comic genius, but also a fine dramatic writer and storyteller.” – Booklist. “Proust meets Chandler over a pint of Guinness.” – Spectator. “Among the most memorable books of the year, of any genre.” – Sunday Times. “A hardboiled delight.” – Guardian. “Imagine Donald Westlake and Richard Stark collaborating on a screwball noir.” – Kirkus Reviews. “A cross between Raymond Chandler and Flann O’Brien.” – John Banville.

Friday, February 8, 2008

D.B. Or Not D.B., That Is The Question

D.B. Shan, aka Darren Shan, the prolific and best-selling author of young adult horror novels, makes a play for the adult crime market when PROCESSION OF THE DEAD is published on March 3rd. Quoth the blurb elves:

The first volume in a noirish, gritty urban fantasy for adults from the bestselling author otherwise known as Darren Shan. Quick-witted and cocksure, young upstart Capac Raimi arrives in the City determined to make his mark. As he learns the tricks of his new trade from his Uncle Theo – extortion, racketeering, threatening behaviour – he’s soon well on his way to becoming a promising new gangster. Then he crosses paths with The Cardinal, and his life changes forever. The Cardinal is the City and the City is The Cardinal. They are joined at the soul. Nothing moves on the streets, or below them, without the Cardinal’s knowledge. His rule is absolute. As Capac begins to discover more about the extent of the Cardinal’s influence on his own life he is faced with hard choices. And as his ambition soars ever higher he will learn all there is to know about loss, and the true cost of ultimate power!

Hmmm … Any chance yon Capac Raimi is a nod to schlock-horror maestro and A SIMPLE PLAN director Sam Raimi? Only time, that perennially doity rat, will tell …

2 comments:

Hi Pat - Yep, D.B. Shan, aka Darren Shan, aka Darren O'Shaughnessy ... Procession of the Dead was originally published as Ayumarca in 1999, although PotD is a much edited version, apparently. And the second volume of the 'City Trilogy' is due next year, Hell's Horizon ... again, heavily edited from its first publication, in 2000. Cheers, Dec